Washing machine



w. H. MEY ER.

WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1920.

1,412,292. Patented Apr- 11, 1922.

UNITED S S PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MEYER, 0F ST LOUIS MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE DAVIS SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

WASHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patel] lied Apr. 11, 1922.

Application filed January 14, :1920. Serial No. 351,290.

To all whom it may concern.

' Be it known that I, IVILLIAM II. Mn-rnn, a citizen of the United States of A1ner1ca,a

resident of the cityof St. Louis, in the State I of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVashing Machines, of which the following 'is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. i

My invention relates to improvements in washing machines, and more particularly to power driven washing machines adapted to be actuated by a continuously running motor, which drives the clothes receptacle as well asthe wringer. One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved means for transmitting movement from the motor to the clothes receptacle, said means preferably. including an oscillatory clutch device adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the clothes receptacle, thus allowing the clothes receptacle to remain at rest while the motor is driving the wringer.

Another object is to provide an improved means for locking the clothes receptacle in afixed position to prevent movement thereof when it is disconnected from the power mechanism. This locking means and the clutch device for transmitting motion to the clothes receptacle are preferably under the control of a single operatingmember, which may be readily actuated to successively disconnect the clothes receptacle fronr the power mechanism and to thereafter loclc the clothes receptacle in a fixed position.

IViththe foregoing and other objects in view,the'invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more speclfically described I and illustrated in the accompanying draw ing's. wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention. I-Iowever, it is tobe understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications which come within the scope of'the claims hereunto appended.

F I is a side elevation of a washing machine, with a part of its housing broken away to show the clutch device through which motion is transmitted from the power mechanism to the clothes receptacle.

Fig. II is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, showing the clutch device and the means for locking the clothes receptacle in a fixed position.

Fig. III is a III-III, Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a Fio. III.

' Fig. V is a perspective view of a rotary sleeve adapted to cooperate with a cam for the purpose of actuating the clutch device.

A designates the frame of a washing machine, preferably enclosed in a housing 2. A clothes receptacle, or tub 3, adapted to 0scillate in the housing, is supported by suitable pivots, one of which is designated by the numeral 4 in Figs. I, II and III. Each side of the tub Ills provided with a frame 3 rigidly fixed thereto, as shown in Figs. I and III, and the pivot pin 4 may be riveted to said frame, as shown in Fig. III. A vertical sheet metal member 5, forming part of the stationary main frame, lies adjacent to the pivot at, and a tulmlar supporting member 6 is attached tothis sheet metal member, as shown in Fig. III. 6 designates a sleeve located in the tubular member 6 to form a vertical sect-ion on line section on line IVIV,

bearing for the pivot 4.- An outer bearing sleeve 6 (Flg. III) is secured to the frame 3 on the tub to form a bearing for the oscillating clutch member, which will be hereinafter described.

T designates a. shiftable clutch member, preferably in theform of a pin arranged radially to the pivot -l and slidably mounted in-a radial guide 8 (Figs. II and III), said guide being fixed to the frame 3 on the oscillatory tub of the washing machine.

in oscillating clutch member 10 is looselv mounted on the outer bearing sleeve 6 (Fig. III). saitllbearing sleeve being fixed to the frame 3 on the tub. This oscillating clutch member 10 is preferably in the formof a crank arranged to oscillate about the axis of the tub and provided with a recess or notch 11, adapted to receive the vertically movable clutchpin 7 The notch 11 is formed in the peripheral face ofthecrank arm, or clutch member 10, and this peripheral face is con centric with the axis of the crank'arm and tub. Since the crank' arm 10 is loosel mounted on the bearing sleeve 6*(Fig. III), said crank arm is free to move independently of the tub, and it may be oscillated continuously withouttransmitting movement to the tub. However, when the clutch pin 7 is extended into the notch 11 in the crank arm, motion will be positively transmitted from said crank arm to the clutch pin 7, and consequentl y to the tub which carries the clutch pin. it

A motor M (Fig. I), which may be secured to the frame of the machine in any suitable manner, has a pulley 12 on its power shaft. A larger pulley 13, fixed to a shaft 1%, is connected to the pulley 12 by a belt 15. A. pinion 16 on the shaft 14; meshes with and drives a large gear wheel 17, the latter being fixed to a shaft 18 provided with a crank 19, to which a pitman 20 is pivoted. This pit-- man is also pivotally connected to the oscillatory crank arm, or clutch member 10'. By means of the mechanism just described, rotary motion will be transmitted from the motor to the shaft 18, and an oscillatory movement will. l imparted to the oscillatory clutch member 10. The motor and the oscillatory clutch member 10 may be driven continuously, and by means of mechanism to be hereinafter described, the operator can very easily start and stop the tub without interrupting the motion of the clutch member 10. If the radially movable clutch pin '7 on the tub is disengaged from the oscillating clutch member 10, said clutch member will be driven idly while the motor is in operation. If, however, the clutch pin 7 is moved, downwardly and permitted to enter the notch 11 in the oscillating clutch member 10, the oscillatory movement will be transmitted from the clutch member 10 to the tub.

The means for shifting the slidable clutchpin 7 includes a vertical shaft 21 mounted in bearings 5 (Figs. III and TV), which may be formed by flanges extending from the vertical sheet metal member 5. Thisvertical shaft 21 also extends through flanges 22 on a cam plate B. As will be hereinafter described, the vertical shaft 21 may be moved longitudinally to lock and unlock the tub, and it can be rotated to raise'and lower the cam plate 13 for the purpose of moving the slidable clutch pin 7 into and out of engagement with the oscillatory clutch member 10. An arcuate flange 22, extending from the cam plate B, lies in a notch in the clutch pin 7 (Fig. III), so as to interlock the cam plate carried by the oscillatory tub, while the cam plate Brema'ins stationary when the tub is v in operation. Therefore, the arcuate flange 22' on thecam plate is concentric with the axis of the tub, so the tub and clutch pin may be oscillated without transmitting movement to the arcuate flange 22. w

The upper portion of the cam plate B is provided with an inclined cam slot 23, adapted to receive a projection 23 (Figs. III, IV and V) extending from a sleeve 24, in which the vertical shaft 21 is slidably with said clutch pin. The clutch pin is.

mounted. A pin 21 (Fig. IV), extending from the vertical shaft 21, lies in a slot 2a (F 1V and V) formed in the sleeve2l. The shaft 21 can be moved vertically without transmitting movement to the sleeve 2 1, but when the shaft 21 is rotated the pin 21 will cooperate with a wall of slot 2 to impart a corresponding movement to the sleeve 24, thereby moving the projection 23 in the inclined slot 23, with the result of imparting a vertical movement to the cam plate B, the latter being slidably mounted on shaft 21'. When the cam plateis shifted vertically, its flange 22' cooperates with clutch pin 'T'to move the latter into and out of engagement with the oscillatory clutch member 10.

I will now describe the means for locking the tub in a fixed position to prevent movement thereof when it is disconnected "from the driving mechanism. A locking member 27, in the formof a sleeve, is rigidly fixed to the vertical shaft 21, as shown most clearly in Figs. III and IV, and this locking member is provided with wings 28 and 29' whereby the tub may be locked in a fixed position. The wing 28 is adapted toenter a notch 25 (Fig. Ill) formed in a flange 25 carried by the tub, said flange being extended from the frame 3 which is secured to the tub. The flange 25 is preferably inclined as shown in Figs. 11 and IV to provide oppositely iir clined faces leading to the notch 25. The wing 29 (Figs. II and III) on the locking sleeve 27 is adapted to enter a notch 26 in a fixed part of the frame, so as to prevent rotation of the locking sleeve. A spring 30, surrounding the vertical shaft 21, lies between the locking sleeve 27 and a flange 5 on a fixed part of the machine, said spring tending to retain the locking sleeve in an elevated position, shown in Fig. III, wherein it engages an intermediate flange 5 on a fixed part of the machine. It will therefore be understood that the spring 30 cooperates with the locking sleeve 27 yieldingly hold the same in its locked posltion, wherein its 7 operate with shoulder 31'to retain the looking device in its unlocked position.

It will be noted that a vertical movement of shaft 21 does not displace the sleeve 24 on the upper end thereof, said shaft being slidably mounted-in saidvsleeve 24 and provided with a pin 21' which, as previously pointed out, Is free to move vertically in a slot 24 formed in the sleeve. A collar 32 (Fig. III), loosely surrounding the shaft 21, is interposed between the'sleeve 24 and a fixed flange 5to prevent downward movement of saidsleevel Upward movement of the sleeve 24: is prevented by higher-flange 5 which engages the top face of said sleeve. When the shaft 21"is rotated, a corresponding movement will be imparted to the sleeve 24 for thegpurpose of raising or lowering the cam plate B whereby the clutch pin 7 is actuated, as previouslyipointed out. 33

Fig. III, so as to unlock the tub, and there-' after said operating handle and shaft may be turned to impart a cor'responding movement to the sleeve 24 and its projection 23" which extends into the cam slot 28 in the cam plate 13. The last mentioned movement of the operating handle and vertical shaft will cause the projection 23 to cooperate with'the cam plate so as to depress said cam plate. Since the arcuate flange 22' on the lower end of the cam plate is interlocked,

with clutch pin 7 (FiggIII), it will'be understood that this downward movement of the cam plate will force the clutch pin into.

operative engagement with the oscillating clutch member. To disconnect the tub from the power mechanism, the operating handle is turned with theresult of elevating the cam plate B, thereby withdrawing clutch pin -7 from clutch member 10, and if the operating handle is then released, the spring 30 will force the shaft 21 in an upward direction so as to locate the locking wings 28 and 29 in their operative positions, shown in Fig. III, wherein they retain the tub in a fixed position. If the locking wing 28 does not register with notch 25 when the spring 30 moves the locking device upwardly, said spring will force the locking wing 28 into'engagement with the bottom face of the inclined flange 25 in which the notch 25 is formed, and the tub can then be moved by handto the position wherein it is to be locked lVhen the tub reaches this position the spring 30, acting an locking sleeve 27, will force the flange 28 (Fig. III) into the notch 25.

I claim:

1. 'A washing machine comprising an oscillatory clothes receptacle provided with a guide on one of its side walls, a driven clutch pin slidably mounted in said guide, an oscillatory driving clutch member movable about .the axis of said clothes receptacle, said driven clutch pin being movable toward and away'from said axis so as to pass into and out of engagement with said oscillatory driving clutch member, and operating means whereby said driven clutch pin is shifted in said guide'to control the transmission of movement from said oscillatory driving clutch member to said clothes receptacle.

2. A washing machine comprising an oscillatory clothes receptacle provided with a radial guide on one of its side walls, a radial clutch pin slidably mounted in said guide, an oscillatory driving clutch member movable about the axis of said clothes receptacle, said driving clutch member comprising a crank arm notched to receive said radial clutch pin, said clutch pin being movable toward and away from saidaxis so as to pass into and out of the notch in said crank arm, and operating means whereby said radial clutch pin' is shiftedin said ra dial'guide to control the transmission of movement from said oscillatory driving clutch member to'said clothes receptacle.

'3. A washing machine comprisingan oscill'atory' clothes receptacle, an oscillatory driving clutch member movableabout the axis'of said clothes receptacle, a driven clutch member mounted on said clothes receptacle and movable toward and away from said axis so as to pass into and out of en gagement with. said oscillatory driving clutch m'ember,'.a support for said oscillatory clothes receptacle, a shifter supported by said support, said shifter having an arouate operating member interlocked with said driven clutch member, said arcuate operating member being concentric with said axis, and said shifterbeing movable to disengage said driven clutch member on the clothes receptacle from said driving clutch member 4. A washing machine comprising a support, an oscillatory tub pivoted to said support, a constantly oscillating clutch member having a recess formed therein, a vertically movable clutch member slidably mounted on said tub, a plate supporting said slidably mounted clutch member, and means cooperating with said plate for bringing said slidably mounted clutch member into operative relationship with said oscillating clutch member.

5. A washing machine comprising a support, an oscillatory tub pivotedto said support, a continuously running motor, driving connections between said motor and said tub comprising a constantly oscillating clutch member, a vertically movable clutch member carried by said tub, a plate cooperating with said vertically movable clutch member having a cam slot formed therein, the lower portion of said plate having an arcuate flange concentric with the axis of said tub, said flange being slidably interlocked with said vertically movable clutch member, and a means operating 1n the cam slot formed in the said plate for depressing the plate and bringing'the vertically movabl'e clutch member into operative relationshipwithsaid oscillating clutch member.

6.; A washing machine comprising a support, a tub pivoted to said support, a constantly oscillating clutch member havin a recess, avertically movable clutch mem er carried by said tub, a plate cooperating with said vertically movable clutch member having a cam slot formed therein, a vertical rotatable shaft, a sleeve on said shaft having an extension which operates in the cam slot formed in said plate, and means for rotating said shaft to depress said plate whereby said vertically movable clutch operating means whereby said clutch pin is moved into engagement with said peripheral face and into the notch therein, said peripheral face being concentric with said axis.

7 8'. A washing machine comprising an' oscillator'y clothes receptacle, an oscillatory driving clutch member movable about the axis of said clothes receptacle, a driven clutch member mounted on said clothes receptacle and movable toward and away from said axis so as to pass into and out of engagement with said oscillatory driving clutch member, locking means adapted to retain said tub in a fixedposition when said driven clutch member is disengaged from said oscillatory driving clutch member, an operating member common to said locking means and driven clutch membenand means whereby the movementis successively transmittedirom said operatingmember to said locking means and thent'o said driven clutch member, the last mentioned means comprising a member movable in one direction to transmit movement to said locking means and movable in another direction to move said driven clutch member.

9. A washing machine'comprising an oscillatory clothes receptacle, an oscillatory driving clutch member movable about the axis of said clothes receptacle, a driven clutch member mounted on said clothes receptacle and movable toward and away "from said axis so as to pass into and out of engagement with said oscillatory driving clutchymember, locking means adapted to retain said tub in a fixed position when said driven clutch member is disengaged from said oscillatory driving clutch member, an

operating meihbercommon to said locking means and driven clutch member; and means whereby the movement is successively transmitted from said operating member tosaid locking means and then to said driven clutch member, the last mentioned means comprising a member movable longitudinally to transmit movementto said locking means .and adapted to be rotated to move said driven clutch member;

In testimony that I claimrthe foregoing I hereunto attix my signature.

WILLIAM H. MEYER. 

